Locking and Unlocking Device for a Card Reader

The invention relates to a locking and unlocking device for a card reader of the type in which the card is entered into the card reader through an entry slot and ejected by spring force. More specifically, the invention relates to a locking and unlocking device in which an at least partially closed hook of a locking element projects into the card entry slot in the quiescent condition, whereby the end of the card is hooked by the hook while the card is being read and the card may be removed from the entry slot by means of a key acting upon the locking element through a lever mechanism.

Numerous designs for these types of card readers are known. The card is normally placed on a longitudinally slideable entry tray and carried to an evaluating device. In order to read the card accurately, the card must be precisely positioned within the card reader while being read. This has been achieved through the action of a mechanical cam or by electromechanical means.

German Offenlegungsschrift P No. 33 43 727 shows a card reader in which the card receptor is a drawer that is insertable into an opening in a telephone station, and that is carried to, and is held within, a trough area in the bottom of the unit. In the inserted state of the card receptor, a projection on a lever, actuated through the entry, engages the housing wall within the opening in the telephone station and thereby arrests the card receptor in the read position. The lever thereby projects minimally beyond the outer contours of the telephone station, so that upon completion of the read procedure the card receptor may be drawn from its locked position by downward pressure on the lever.

This card reader has the disadvantage that the card receptor must be drawn, at least partially, out of the telephone station in order to insert and/or remove the card. Aside from the difficulty of inserting and removing the card, this structure makes it possible that the contacts in the card receptor will become contaminated.

It is known to avoid this disadvantage through the use of a longitudinal slide which is movable within a fixed receptor. The slide, which supports the contact apparatus by which the card is read, is mechanically arrested in the read position by a cam or by an electromagnet. This has the disadvantage that the card projects so far out of the card reader in the read position, that it may be removed without unlocking of the slide. (This unlocking may follow, for example, during cam locking, due to renewed pressure on the card, and the resulting release of this spring loaded element.) The contact springs by which the card is read then slide over the sensitive reading area of the card. This eventually damages the card and makes it unusable.

It has therefore been proposed to fix the card in position during reading by using a pin to engage a mating hole in the card. This is undesirable because the card should be universally useable and not limited to use with a specific type of card reader.

It is also known to lock the card during reading by an over-riding hook of a locking lever, so that the card is not removable by the user.

In certain applications it may be desirable to return the card to the user automatically, e.g. after it has been read.

One object of the invention is to further improve existing locking and unlocking devices to make them more user-friendly.

In accordance with the invention, the key is supplemented by a solenoid, which acts upon the locking lever via a release lever. This has the advantage that existing locking and unlocking devices may be retrofitted to provide electrical actuation, without costly modifications.

In an advantageous embodiment, one end of the release lever is fixed to the solenoid armature and the other end is forked to engage the end of the locking lever that is opposite the hook which hooks over the free end of the card.

Advantageously, the fork of the release lever is dimensioned such that operation of the key does not move the release lever. In this way, locking of the moving parts can be held to a minimum. Also, the necessary force required to actuate the locking and unlocking device is substantially reduced.

Exemplary and non-limiting preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a known card reader in the state in which a card is locked in place during reading;

FIG. 2 shows the known card reader in the state in which a card is unlocked; and

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.

A known card reader apparatus has a key 1 and a hinged locking lever 2. The lever 2 is supported on its side on a mounting base 3, and is biased by a compression spring 4. The key 1 is biased outwardly by an additional compression spring 5, and has a sloping ramp 6. The ramp 6, in use, moves a cam 7 which is arranged on the locking lever 2.

In the state shown in FIG. 1, the card 10 is inserted into the card reader 8 and is received by a moveable slide that is held, against spring pressure, within the card reader 8. When the card 10 has been fully inserted, it is locked in position by a hook 11 on the locking lever 2, which reaches over the rear end of the card 10. As shown in FIG. 2, when the key 1 is pushed in, its sloping ramp 6 lifts the cam 7, whereby the locking lever is lifted in the direction of the arrow A, whereby the card 10 is released and may be removed.

Turning to FIG. 3, there is shown an arrangement for locking and unlocking the card 10 using a supplemental solenoid 12, in which the device is viewed in the direction of the slot 9 of the card reader 8. In addition to the key 1, there is provided a solenoid 12 which actuates the locking and unlocking device through a release lever 13. One end of the release lever 13 is secured to the moving armature 14 of the solenoid 12, while its other free end 15 is forked and engages one end of the locking lever 2. FIG. 3 shows the card 10 in the locked condition. When the solenoid 12 is actuated, its armature 14 moves in the direction of the arrow B, raising the hook 11 of the locking lever 2 sufficiently so that the card 10 is released.

The apparatus is so designed that when the locking lever 2 is lifted by the key 1, the armature 14 of the solenoid 12 is not moved. This is because the fork at the free end 15 of the release lever 13 is chosen to have appropriate dimensions. When the card 10 is in the locked position during reading, the end of the locking lever 2 which is opposite the hook 11 rests on the bottom of the fork. When the key 1 is used to unlock the card 10, the free end 15 of the locking lever 2 is moved upwardly within the fork, but the fork has enough clearance so that this motion does not move the armature 14.

Those skilled in the art will understand that changes can be made in the preferred embodiments here described, and that these embodiments can be used for other purposes. Such changes and uses are within the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.